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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Potentially toxic in-laws?

82 replies

MazMcG · 29/09/2020 07:37

So, I used to have a very healthy relationship with my soon to be in-laws. Until recently when my partner and I temporarily moved in with them as our house is being renovated. We have a 2 month old son together, and my partners parents are very helpful with him, and like to help out which is wonderful!

However, there have been some worrying comments made about both myself and my partner since the baby was born. For the first 10 days of my sons life I was suffering very badly with anxiety and felt extremely uncomfortable with other people holding him. I forced myself to allow his grandparents to hold him, as I didn't think it was fair to stop them, especially given that we're staying with them. However, his sister and her husband came up a few times to visit, and I allowed them to hold the baby once they sanitized their hands, and put masks on due to the pandemic. Then one day his sister was leaning over the baby with no mask on and was about to lift him when I asked her to put her mask on. After this I told his mother that I was no longer comfortable with his sister holding the baby due to the pandemic, and that when they visited it would only be people in the household that would hold him. She stormed out of the room and didn't speak to me for the rest of the evening. Then the next day my son was brought into the hospital due to jaundice and kept overnight, when we got home his mother was still not speaking to me, and I kept my distance from her. My partner was downstairs with them when an argument erupted, which resulted in my partners mother telling her husband "I told you not to get too close to the baby because we'll probably never see him", this was clearly due to my anxiety and the fact that I was quite clingy with my son (not that I ever stopped them holding him". I thought that this was a very hurtful comment to make, as I never considered stopping them from seeing their grandson, I had no reason to! Despite the fact that I wasn't involved in the argument, the next morning his mother started offering everyone toast, buns, and tea, apart from me for some reason.

Recently my partners mother made a comment to me about our dog being more important to him than his own son (because he likes to have the dog around, despite how they feel about animals and babies living in the same house).

Another situation was when my partners mother bought our son a sleeping bag and told us to use it, when I explained that we preferred the swaddle as it helps him sleep really well, she stormed out into the kitchen and began giving off to her husband about me not wanting to use the sleeping bag she got us.

The worst situation happened a few weeks ago when my partner began to struggle with his mental health. I tried to talk to his parents about how he was feeling and they said he needs to start looking at the positives in his life to help him feel better, when I explained that this isn't how depression works, they didn't seem to comprehend what I was trying to say, so I gave up trying. Then about 2 weeks ago my partner made a comment to me saying that he thought it would be better it he wasn't here anymore. I decided that his parents needed to know this and told them. His dad made a joke about how "when he says he doesn't want to be here anymore, he means living with us, he wants to be in his own house", and then proceeded to say that when you have a child you can't worry about yourself anymore, and that my partner needs to grow up.

I had to leave the room and I was fuming at this comment. Then the topic was brought up again a few days ago by his mother to me, and I told her that the comment her husband made really upset me, and she said that what I said really upset her husband, she then indicated that I was disrespectful for saying what I said about him not wanting to be here anymore. She said it was hard to hear. I started to cry and told them that dealing with a new baby and a partner who is depressed was taking it's toll and that I needed help, as I can't be the only one trying to help him.

Since I told them about his mental health being poor, neither of them have spoken to him to ask him how he is, and his father hasn't once asked me for an update on his sons mental health.

I do understand that hearing that about your son would be very hard to hear, but it wasn't easy for me to hear either.

Am I being unreasonable to think that these people are toxic?

OP posts:
CSIblonde · 29/09/2020 15:46

I think you'd be better getting one or two rooms at your house liveable asap & moving back in tbh. It's a personality clash exacerbated by being under the same roof.

Ireolu · 29/09/2020 15:47

You are too rigid and restrictive in your thoughts and opinions. The only thing I take issue with is the lack of support for their sons mental health. You shd move back home asap as you are not easy going enough to manage not having your own space during this time of uncertainty (covid) and huge change (new baby) for you and your partner. Not a dig as would be difficult for most.

Bluntness100 · 29/09/2020 15:49

We only know that she has had bad anxiety since giving birth recently whilst living with her in-laws during a pandemic?

Anxiety is mental illness. Not the oh I feel anxious about the doctors appt kind of anxiety that everyone feels, but proper clinically diagnosed anxiety is mental illness, it’s a disorder, I assume this is what the op means and not just she’s a bit anxious based on her anxiety description, because otherwise she wouldn’t mention it as the cause for her reactions.

Emeeno1 · 29/09/2020 15:57

They're not toxic they're human.

You evidently want them to take into account your feelings, and those of your husbands, but then you in turn must also take into account their feelings.

It is not a competition. Your anxieties, feelings and stresses do not trump theirs.

monkeymonkey2010 · 29/09/2020 20:09

"We have a 2 month old son together, and my partners parents are very helpful with him, and like to help out which is wonderful!....I forced myself to allow his grandparents to hold him, as I didn't think it was fair to stop them, especially given that we're staying with them"

So....despite your 'anxiety' you made the effort to be 'normal'.....

You set reasonable boundaries re your child and - quite rightly - but SIL decided to ignore this.
Your MIL was most likely not happy at you speaking up for yourself and your child and following through on the consequences of ignoring those boundaries - she probably took it as a personal attack on 'her family'.
Tough - she can get over it.

Two days AFTER your baby has returned home from a hospital stay, and you are naturally a lot more 'anxious' re his health and contact germs...this is what happens - My partner was downstairs with them when an argument erupted, which resulted in my partners mother telling her husband "I told you not to get too close to the baby because we'll probably never see him"
When EXACTLY did she say this to her husband the first time?
I'd be really interested to know - cos either SHE had these thoughts in her head before you gave birth, or she's made it up on the spot after realising that you won't be messed with.

I'll tell you what my intuition and gut tell me and how i see it-
Your son is 2 months old, you've been living with them since his birth, and other than that ONE incident with SIL, there have been no issues with anybody let alone PIL.
i think YOU have managed your anxiety extremely well under the circumstances...especially when you know you have no right to say anything re visitors to their home.

MIL created that drama deliberately.
You heard of reverse psychology?
That's what she's doing - using your normal and 'healthy' boundary setting to create a problem....so that in future anytime you insist on healthy boundaries, or follow through with the consequences when they overstep them, she will throw this accusation back in your face as a means to manipulate you.
She knows it will cause tension between you and DP....and if you're not emotionally/mentally strong enough you'll give in to her for the sake of 'peace'.

They're not interested in their own child's mental health after he's become a parent for the first time.....that tells you all you need to know re their empathy and mindset.....

If i were you i'd be moving out....when it's got to the point where MIL is being nasty and passive aggressive towards you, it's NEVER going to be healthy for you to remain in that atmosphere.

monkeymonkey2010 · 29/09/2020 20:18

and anybody who can't give a first time mother extra understanding over 'anxiety' - especially under the current circumstances ....their opinion doesn't count.

don't allow anybody to make you doubt yourself or undermine you as a mother - YOU are the one who has to deal with the consequences when it concerns your child.....
and don't allow them to create a wedge between you and your DP.

Eryouwhat · 29/09/2020 20:27

They’re definitely not toxic lol

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